Information bill a small victory for SA's citizens

[Anton Harber] We need to learn to celebrate the big victories, and not dwell on the small defeats. The Protection of State Information Bill currently awaiting President Jacob Zuma's signature is a victory for organised citizens' power. 17 May 2013 07:52

Guptagag

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: The Gupta family isn't going to talk to the media until the report on its guests landing at Waterkloof is finalised, reports Mail & Guardian, and BD Live reports the DA is urging Zuma not to sign the secrecy bill. The ConCourt has reserved judgment on media's access to the Krejcir hearing, reports Mail & Guardian, and IOL reports that a Sun reporter has been charged in the UK hacking probe. 15 May 2013 07:29

And he wasn't even there...

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: Glitches in the voting on the POIB included a vote being recorded for a former MP who hasn't actually been in Parliament for a while, and a few who also weren't even there for the vote, reports Times Live. 30 Apr 2013 07:48

Oh No! Jomo Sono blackmails Dina?

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: Communications Minister Dina Pule has blamed soccer legend Jomo Sono for what she alleges is a 'smear campaign' against her, reports City Press; meanwhile Stephen Grootes, writing for BD Live, suggests Pule might have reason to fear Zuma's next press conference. Mail & Guardian reports on the ANC's reaction to the DA's call for a redo on last week's POIB vote, and on IOL, Murray Williams asks whether porn is worse than many other industries? 29 Apr 2013 08:14

See you in court, POIB

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: As expected, the controversial Protection of State Information Bill has been passed in the National Assembly, but will probably face a challenge in the Constitutional Court, reports Mail & Guardian, while Rebecca Hodes, writing in Daily Maverick, takes ASASA to task over the Xpanda ad that critics reckon is racist. In IOL, Caxton non-executive chairman Paul Jenkins says that established news outlets are not stifling the smaller players. 26 Apr 2013 08:22

MPs adopt POIB report

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: As expected, MPs have adopted the Protection of State Information Bill report, reports Mail & Guardian, and in BD Live, Allister Sparks recounts how the late Mervyn Rees helped change the course of SA history - by doing exactly what many critics of the POIB believe the bill is designed to stamp out. 24 Apr 2013 06:41

POIB battle looms

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: While the ANC has accepted the contentious Protection of State Information Bill (POIB), opposition parties are still not happy, reports The New Age. 23 Apr 2013 06:09

POIB law by June? SABC's Man with No Matric moved

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: Despite massive and unrelenting opposition from many quarters - including Right2Know, the ANC's own alliance partner Cosatu, and criticism by Ronnie Kasrils, former cabinet minister - it seems the contentious bill could become law by June, reports Mail & Guardian, which also reports that the SABC has moved Hlaudi Motsoeneng out of his position as acting chief operating officer. 27 Feb 2013 07:01

Government concerned over 'secrecy' report

Government has raised concerns at a report by lobby group Right2Know, which, among other things, claimed that secrecy is on the rise in the state. 20 Feb 2013 05:44

Resistance to Info Bill to continue

NEWSWATCH: According to R2K, the proposed Protection of State Information Bill is still a draconian piece of legislation, reports IOL, while the ConCourt has found that certain provisions of the Films and Publications Act are unconstitutional and invalid, reports Mail & Guardian. Meanwhile, the organisers of Joburg Pride are not feeling "so lekker" towards Jacaranda FM, reports The Citizen. 1 Oct 2012 07:57

Secrecy Bill still looms - and is evil as ever

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] Lift your eyes from the daily grind, mense, because there's important backtracking from the ANC on the Secrecy Bill that we all need to know about. 18 Sep 2012 13:33

Parliament would have key role in Info Bill

Parliament would have a key role to play when it came to the classification of information under the Information Bill, while the authority to classify information as protected or not would not lie solely with the Minister of State Security, the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor says. 10 Sep 2012 08:09

SABC gets an 'F' in language, news - and a washout in soapies

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: According to Channel24, a study by Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) has found the SABC seriously wanting in a number of areas, and still at the SABC, Noluthando Gosa wants a seat on the board... again... Mail & Guardian reports there are still problems with the POIB, and it also takes a look at the lighter (whiter?) side of the Woolies advertising issue. Finally, the SADF assures you it is looking after rhinos, us and our guests - great news in the latter case if you run a B&B. 6 Sep 2012 11:53